Senator Maurice Cummins and his wife, Ann, who were hurt in a car crash in Clontarf, Dublin, have been awarded more than €55,000 damages for personal injuries.
Mr John Cheatle, counsel for the Waterford couple, told Judge Joseph Mathews in the Circuit Civil Court the Cummins' car was written off in a head-on collision at traffic lights on July 2nd, 2000.
Sen Cummins said his wife Ann had been driving and as it moved off from a junction, another vehicle, driven by Mr Jason Murphy, Thorneville Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin, crossed to the wrong side of the road and struck them head on.
The court heard that Sen Cummins and his wife, their daughter Fiona, and their niece, Miriam Butler, who were in the back of the car, were taken to Beaumont Hospital but had been discharged some hours later after treatment.
Both had suffered whiplash injuries to their chests, necks and shoulders and Sen Cummins sustained a back injury. He told the court that after the accident he had difficulty gardening and playing golf.
Mr Cheatle said liability for the accident had been admitted on behalf of the defendants, Mr Patrick Murphy, the car owner, and his son, Jason. He asked the court to assess compensation for the couple's injuries.
Judge Mathews said Mr and Mrs Cummins, who live at Ursuline Court, Waterford City, had not tried to exaggerate their claims. Another vehicle had come at them at speed and demolished their car. "Although neither party has attempted to overstate their injuries, the trauma of that alone is significant," said the judge. Awarding Sen Cummins €30,500 and his wife €25,300 Judge Mathews said it was clear from their medical reports their injuries were not in the "severe" range, but their quality of life had been seriously upset.